"Creating a drama to get himself going": Novak Djokovic has similarities with John McEnroe according to Martina Navratilova

Novak Djokovic is currently facing off with Taylor Fritz in a bid to reach the semi-finals at the 2024 Australian Open and has already reprimanded his team about not being able to get their attention and has also dealt with multiple hecklers all tournament.

Usually a tonic to fire up the tennis great, one other legend Martina Navratilova believes that he holds similarities to another player in John McEnroe in terms of in her belief how he uses drama to get himself going and that when the crowd goes negative on him, he uses it to his advantage.

But also in her belief, it isn't a hinderence as he still wins the matches and in reality it gives him extra energy more than anything. After a tough two sets to begin his tie with Fritz, he won the third and as of time of writing looks increasingly likely to book his spot with a potential tie against Jannik Sinner awaiting in the semi-finals which given the form of the Serbian so far this tournament will either be a feast or famine situation. He will hope as a result for some crowd negativity if Navratilova's words are to be heeded.

"He kind of reminds me of John McEnroe, creating a drama to get himself going. And sometimes, Novak does that with fans, he just picks on one and it gets him fired up. But you know, whatever works, sometimes, when the crowd gets negative on you, he goes negative, but it works for him," she said on Tennis Channel.
"At the end of the day, he wins most of those matches even though he looks like he's losing it emotionally, you know. But he never loses a point because of that, I think it just gives him extra energy, whatever works, yeah."